“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” takes us to a new era of J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, decades before Harry Potter and half a world away. Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything, The Danish Girl) stars in the central role of Magizoologist Newt Scamander, under the direction of David Yates, who helmed the last four “Harry Potter” blockbusters.

The film marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, whose seven beloved Harry Potter books were adapted into one of the highest grossing film franchises of all time. Her script was inspired by the Hogwarts textbook “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” written by her character Newt Scamander.

In addition to David Yates, the film reunited a number of people from the Harry Potter features, including producers David Heyman, J.K. Rowling, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram. Tim Lewis, Neil Blair and Rick Senat served as executive producers.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” will be available on Ultra HD Blu-ray for $44.95, Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack for $44.95, Blu-ray Combo Pack for $35.99 and 2-disc DVD Special Edition for $28.98 on March 28. The Ultra HD Blu-ray features an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc with the film in 4K with HDR, a Blu-ray disc of the film in high definition, and a digital version of the film in Digital HD with UltraViolet*. The Blu-ray 3D Combo Pack features the film in 3D hi-definition, hi-definition and standard definition; the Blu-ray Combo Pack features the film in hi-definition on Blu-ray; and the DVD features the film in standard definition. All versions include a digital version of the movie in Digital HD with UltraViolet.* Fans can also own “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” via purchase from digital retailers.

Additionally, all of the special features, including interviews with filmmakers, character and creature featurettes, deleted scenes and 360° videos, can be experienced in an entirely new, dynamic and immersive manner on tablets and mobile phones using the Warner Bros. Movies All Access App, available for both iOS and Android devices. When purchased digitally and redeemed on UltraViolet, the Warner Bros. Movies All Access App allows users to watch the movie and simultaneously experience synchronized content related to any scene, simply by rotating their device. Synchronized content is presented on the same screen while the movie is playing, thus enabling users to quickly learn more about any scene, such as actor biographies, scene locations, fun trivia, or image galleries. Also, users can share movie clips with friends on social media and experience other immersive content. The Movies All Access app is available for download on the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store.”

The Blu-ray discs of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” will feature a Dolby Atmos® soundtrack remixed specifically for the home theater environment to place and move audio anywhere in the room, including overhead. To experience Dolby Atmos at home, a Dolby Atmos enabled AV receiver and additional speakers are required, or a Dolby Atmos enabled sound bar; however, Dolby Atmos soundtracks are also fully backward compatible with traditional audio configurations and legacy home entertainment equipment.

FANTASTIC BEASTS VIRTUAL REALITY

Also available this year will be an expanded Fantastic Beasts Virtual Reality experience. This version of the previously released Virtual Reality will allow fans to return to the wizarding world for a more robust and expanded experience featuring new beasts and participate in more magical spells as they interact with each of the creatures inside Newt’s case. Additionally, the experience includes never-before-seen footage and will be available for purchase on several VR platforms.

HARRY POTTER ON ULTRA HD BLU-RAY

Finally, Warner Bros. will release all eight Harry Potter films on Ultra HD Blu-ray in 2017. The last four films will be released on March 28 and will include Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire will be available later in 2017. Ultra HD Blu-ray showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before.

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM SYNOPSIS

There are growing dangers in the wizarding world of 1926 New York. Something mysterious is leaving a path of destruction in the streets, threatening to expose the wizarding community to the No-Majs (American for Muggles), including the Second Salemers, a fanatical faction bent on eradicating them. And the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald, after wreaking havoc in Europe, has slipped away…and is now nowhere to be found.

Unaware of the rising tensions, Newt Scamander arrives in the city nearing the end of a global excursion to research and rescue magical creatures, some of which are safeguarded in the magical hidden dimensions of his deceptively nondescript leather case. But potential disaster strikes when unsuspecting No-Maj Jacob Kowalski inadvertently lets some of Newt’s beasts loose in a city already on edge—a serious breach of the Statute of Secrecy that former Auror Tina Goldstein jumps on, seeing her chance to regain her post as an investigator. However, things take an ominous turn when Percival Graves, the enigmatic Director of Magical Security at MACUSA (Magical Congress of the United States of America), casts his suspicions on both Newt and Tina.

Now allied, Newt and Tina, together with Tina’s sister, Queenie, and their new No-Maj friend, Jacob, form a band of unlikely heroes, who must recover Newt’s missing beasts before they come to harm. But the stakes are higher than these four outsiders—now branded fugitives—ever imagined, as their mission puts them on a collision course with dark forces that could push the wizarding and No-Maj worlds to the brink of war.

BLU-RAY AND DVD ELEMENTS

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” Ultra HD Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray,Blu-ray Combo Packs and 2-disc DVD Special Edition contains the following special features:

·Before Harry Potter: A New Era of Magic Begins!

oJoin J.K. Rowling as she, David Yates and David Heyman return to Leavesden Studios to build a new and exciting corner of the wizarding universe.

·Characters

oThe Magizoologist

oThe Goldstein Sisters

oThe New Salemers

oThe No-Maj Baker

oThe President and the Auror

·Creatures

oMeet the Fantastic Beasts

oBowtruckle

oDemiguise

oErumpent

oNiffler

oOccamy

oThunderbird

·Design

oShaping the World of Fantastic Beasts (360°)

oNew York City (360°)

oMACUSA (360°)

oNewt’s Magical Case (360°)

oThe Shaw Banquet

oThe Blind Pig (360°)

·Deleted Scenes (11 scenes)

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS

On March 7th, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” will be available to own for streaming and download to watch anywhere in high definition and standard definition on favorite devices from select digital retailers including Amazon, CinemaNow, Flixster, iTunes, PlayStation, Vudu, Xbox and others. On March 28th, “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” will be made available digitally on Video On Demand services from cable and satellite providers, and on select gaming consoles.